Epic Games has unveiled plans for Unreal Engine 6, detailing a new feature that could allow players to transfer cosmetic items, such as Fortnite skins, between different Unreal Engine-powered games. This initiative aims to foster a more interconnected ecosystem within the gaming industry.
Marcus Wassmer, a development team lead at Epic, discussed the engine's future during a recent State of Play broadcast. He explained that the company's objective is to make content and code portable across games and engines. This would enable cross-promotion, portable player value, and leverage network effects as described by Metcalfe's Law. The system is intended to create positive-sum dynamics by connecting experiences and social graphs.
The initial implementation of this portability will focus on Fortnite cosmetics. The base system for these cosmetics will be adapted into an open Unreal Engine 6 module. This means developers could integrate a player's owned Fortnite outfits into their own games, and conversely, create outfits for their games that function within Fortnite.
Epic views Fortnite as a significant platform to test and prove the viability of this cross-game asset system. Wassmer stated that this is the first step towards establishing a shared economy for "smart assets" – functional assets with integrated logic that work across multiple games, thereby better recognizing players' time and investment. He emphasized that the ultimate goal extends beyond Fortnite, aiming to demonstrate that such a complex system can operate effectively at scale, benefiting all participating games.
Unreal Engine 6 is still in its early stages of development, with early access testing slated for late 2027, followed by a full release approximately 12 to 18 months later. Alongside cosmetic portability, key features planned for UE6 include integrated generative AI large language model capabilities, similar to what has recently been rolled out for Unreal Engine update 5.8, and support for a substantially larger number of concurrent players, potentially reaching thousands or even millions in some titles.
A significant priority for Unreal Engine 6 appears to be streamlining cross-platform development. The engine is being designed to allow games to function across multiple platforms with reduced effort from developers, shifting focus from purely graphical advancements to foundational development efficiencies. Wassmer concluded by noting that while UE6 will significantly alter game development processes, the core element remains the human element – the developers and creators within the Unreal Engine community.